The ubiquitous AH Wheelers book stalls may soon be a thing of the past owing to apolicy formulated by the railway board with an aim to decongest railway stations. But the plan is facing stiff opposition by the iconic institution as it has flagged several discrepancies.

As per the pan-India policy, the railway board wants to convert all exclusive stalls – including the old Wheelers – into multi-purpose stalls (MSPs) that will require them to begin selling everything from books, magazines, newspapers to other items, including medicines, packaged drinking water, chips, biscuits, milk powder among others.

The Indian Railways will preserve a few weighing machines that are in a working condition at the Heritage Hill Railways lines. These machines will also be kept in museums.

A letter to that effect was recently sent to the zonal railway directing them to implement the policy.

A senior official from Central Railway, requesting anonymity, said, “The aim of the new policy is to reduce the number of stalls on railway premises with the view to decongest railway stations. At present, there are independent stalls selling medicines, while some sell simply books, and others have edible items. All these items can be sold under one roof. However, there are certain inconsistencies in the policy and we have asked for an explanation from the board on the same.”

The policy requires all items, including books, snacks and medicines, to be sold under one roof with an aim to reduce the number of stalls at railway stations

Once the railway administration began executing the policy and wrote to the stall owners asking them to convert the stalls to MSPs, it was vehemently opposed. The stall owners highlighted various incongruencies that would reportedly accrue heavy losses to their businesses of implemented.

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One of them was a clause in the policy that stipulated that a single company can run not more than 10 multipurpose stalls in one railway zone. However, presently there are about 18 AH Wheeler stalls on the suburban network of CR alone.

“According to the policy, the remaining stalls owned by AH Wheelers will have to shut down once their existing contract is over. So, we have asked them to iron out issues like these,” said a CR official.

The owners of AH Wheelers have also approached the board who promptly formed a committee to look into the matter.

The policy guidelines on the fee structure of these stalls is also a bone of contention with the Wheelers as it currently pays only 5 per cent of its annual turn over to the railways. The new guidelines, however, require a minimum license fee of not less than 12 per cent of their estimated sale turnover.

Shailendra Kumar, Chief Commercial Manager of CR, said, “The committee is trying to resolve all the issues raised. We have written to them seeking clarification.”

Coin-operated weighing machines on Mumbai railway stations, a staple at stations over 60 years, relegated to history. This decision has been taken due to decrease of commuter interest and financial unviability.